The Journey
In my first year of the Fda I am currently studying, I began with an interest in street photography which then lead me towards photo journalism and documentary photography. The impact the photography can make on the audience is the main element, which interests me the most within these categories and, how they can move your emotions.
In a seminar in my first year we had to choose our favorite photograph weather it was your own or someone else’s. The photograph I chose was the famous photograph by Kevin Carter we all had to explain why it was our favorite, I gave the reason that it wasn’t the subject matter that made it my favorite, because in my opinion it wasn’t, it was the impact on which the photograph makes on its audience. From Photojournalism and Photo documentary, I spiraled of on to researching into other subjects such as class politics from looking at work from photographers like Martin Parr, Paul Graham, Donavon Whylie, Helen Levitt and Renne Burri. A particular photograph I saw at the Taylor Wessing photographic potrait prize by Reiner Gerritsen I found really interesting, it was a personal project of how people react in confined spaces. It gave me an idea of how modern day society react to each other.
Looking at this work i found an interest in social documentary photography. I Firstly started to look into social issues Within the UK I had watched documentaries and took photographs of the places that get affected the most. In order to know what photography you should be taking and to recognize significant details within the subject matter you are photographing, it takes research so not to miss anything that isn’t too obvious.
I then began to look into such subjects such as anthropology, sociology that then lead into economics and psychology. The last two subjects are what lead me to my FMP.
My Influences.
A lot has influenced me while being on this course. I saw quite a few photography galleries in my first year and have learnt a lot through tutors and students. I think it is important to interact, learn of each other and share information. I have watched and been shown a few documentaries in conclusion with my FMP. All of which are below, the most recent at the top is my main influence for my FMP
CONSUMERISM
So my over all FMP concept is one that has conjured up from the beginning of the course. From the notes I have made in classes and the personal research I have done. Currently my interest are leaning more towards phycology, how we work together as a society and how certain things we see and do influence our life. Media being a huge part of this factor along side advertising. In relation to advertising I have photographed my FMP. Which is based on consumerism, the ways that company’s and businesses advertise, what they advertise and the underlying irony I have recognized in the details I have framed. I kept the word consumerism in mind while taking these photographs. I also thought about how these factors target society based on a phyco analysis. These photographs have been taken fro my perspective. Although I have shown a quite a few friends and family and asked them what they saw in the photograph with the tittle consumption in mind, I got a few interpretations similar to mine. and to some they it was hard to determine why I had photographed what I had.
For the exhibition I am going to extend my research out to doing a survey and asking what springs to mind when looking at these photographs to members of the public. I will spend a day or two showing different people the images around different areas in the centre of Manchester. A city centre is one of the most effected places of consumption and media control, there is also a divide in the areas within the city centre that target different people, there for a good place to do a survey based on my work. Once I have the descriptions from members the public I will display them underneath the photograph with the area they were and their thoughts that sprung to mind. I think it would be best to use a Dictaphone.
Explanation of consumerism
(Movement or policies aimed at regulating the products, services, methods, and standards of manufacturers, sellers, and advertisers in the interests of the buyer. Such regulation may be institutional, statutory, or embodied in a voluntary code accepted by a particular industry, or it may result more indirectly from the influence of consumer organizations. Governments often establish formal regulatory agencies to ensure consumer protection (in the U.S., e.g., the Federal Trade Commission and the Food and Drug Administration). Some of the earliest consumer-protection laws were created to prevent the sale of tainted food and harmful drugs. The U.S. consumer protection movement gained strength in the 1960s and '70s as consumer activists led by Ralph Nader lobbied for laws setting safety standards for automobiles, toys, and numerous household products. Consumer advocates have also won passage of laws obliging advertisers to represent their goods truthfully and preventing sales representatives from using deceptive sales tactics. Consumer advocacy is carried on worldwide by the International Organization of Consumers Unions (IOCU).
I have been converting to using film lately rather than digital. A medium that has been said to have a stronger truth element. My favorite format for the moment being medium format. My final images where taken on a Rollicord with Fuji Reala 120 film
Here are my final images below.
